Desiree Ellis on building Banyana beyond WAFCON: ‘The future looks bright’

With the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on the horizon, Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis is focused on building a strong squad.

Ellis named her 24-player squad for the upcoming international friendlies against Algeria, blending experienced stars with young talent, include two teenagers.

She explained the importance of nurturing young players and giving them opportunities to develop their skills.

She is excited about the future of South African women’s football, with a new generation of players coming through and a renewed focus on developing the sport from the grassroots up.

"It's not just about now. It's about preparing for the future… [And] the future looks really bright,"

Ellis also emphasised the importance of staying focused, especially due to the challenges facing the rescheduling of the WAFCON to July.

"We had to manage the players who played during the COSAFA Cup, because nobody had played any games and some club hadn’t had preseason yet.

“It’s not just a WAFCON, it’s a WAFCON to qualify for the World Cup,” she said.

To listen to Ellis in conversation with 947’s Robert Marawa, click the audio player below: